The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-06-26
ST NJ MER SWIMMERS.
BATHING PLACES FOR THE BOYS.
THEIR DELIGHTS 4ND DANCERS

Dutchman's Wreck. Belle Island, the
Lake, skin-Deep. Little Hell. Soda Water,
Hugh Fry, Stream, and Other Noted
Localities.
The bathing season is now fully under
way. and every evening great numbers OF
the youth and many OF the men Of the
sis.sr cities disport themselves in the
James.
Though an occasional sad drowning
accident happens, Richmond should be
grateful for the facilities afforded by the
river for bathing, on account Of the benc-
fetal sanitary effects and the Opportuni-
ties It gives to acquire that most lseful &C
cOmpishment swimming.
As so many boys go swimmin ey-
cry evening, il is probable that their
parents would like to have some idea OF
where their young hopeiuls resort to.
Water Is water TO boy, and he will go
into II anywhere. but generally he prefers
some spot which is the general rendez
yous of his friends There are a number
Of these places along the river. Above
town. some distance from e Water
/ Works. is the highest that is regular
/ bathing place This is known as The
. Dutchman's Wreck" and with its pow
erful current should never be yeniured
/ into but by expert and leyelheaded
swimmers.
Coming lower down the next place is
/ Belle Isle There are many more bathers
/ here than at the former ON the side
of the island towards Richmond the river
is mass of rocks and the place usually
chosen by bathers Skin Deep is "a
pool which at low stages of water unfit
for use. and I'm high has dangers that
have been attcsted by a dozen deaths.
/ ON the Manchester side at the head of
the island Is one of the best, and certainly
the prctticst place of the sort near Rich.
mond the dam fOl the use of the iron
works ON Belle Isle forms AN extensive
sheet of water which is NOT swift enough
tO Doe dangerous. and yet has current 10
keep the water cool Al the dam the
depth Is slight, both inside and out, So
there is no danger from that source.
I'm the middle of the river not far above
the Richmond and Danyille bridge is The
wellknown Lake" damned by a ledge
|of rocks. which forms a smooth pond OF
considerable extent Around 'he Lake
i'm various directions are "a number of
rapids falls. ETC.. which are tayOrite
places of resort and each of which has
a name. and rather peculiar names too
There Is Tiger Heaven ' lthat most
dangerou, rapid near llaXalls Mills, in
the neiehb0rh00d of which q boy was
drowned this SPRING, Hell lliiile and
biz. Soda Water where the water
comes lOaming over q high rock into d
deep hole Glow and affords q very
pleasant shower-bath, "Ihe Rapids,
'Hugh Fry" and others The danger
ou. rapids. Heaven and Hell, are d
considerable distance from the others
and I'm the Lake Rapids "Sod'
Water. and "lIugh Fry there
is no danger To- a good swim
} mer except of the abrasion of hi
cuticle ON the rough rocks. When swim
, ming I'm the falls Is spoken of, the Owe
hand method Is meant for mo- other is o
I, use I'm thc rapid currents. The boys who
4. learn TO swim here become very expert
, and 20 sometimes surprises a big fellow
, who only knows the smooth water styl
to see little one make his way rapidly
through a stream which he has bad
long struggle with
The various places in the smooth waite
. below the head of tide need no especia
, mention.